Isothermal grain growth of CdTe in CdCl/sub 2/ and Te fluxes [solar cells]

The mechanism of isothermal recrystallization of CdTe powder in liquid CdCl/sub 2/ and Te was studied and the possibility to grow CdTe monograin powders was shown. Te was found to act as an effective flux similarly to CdCl/sub 2/ guaranteeing high growth rate for CdTe grains. At lower annealing temperatures (500-650/spl deg/C) primary crystals grow mainly by deposition of material from saturated solution onto smooth crystal surfaces. In higher temperature region (700-800/spl deg/C) there occurs remarkable sintering of particles and grains lose their round shape. Te in CdCl/sub 2/ flux was found to reduce the formation of aggregates and to increase the rate of crystal growth.